This semester I’m taking a class on arts in Africa and this week I’m going to be doing an “exhibition” going into the idea of status and personal adornment in African artwork. Different pieces of personal adornment convey different meanings and status levels within their cultures.
This photo shows “Sandal Pair: Lions” from the Asante people in Ghana from c. 20th century. They are these really well crafted sandals that are expertly designed to have all the detail of the whiskers, face and body of lions stitched into the leather. Lions were a big part of imagery for the Akan people as a whole, including the Asante. Lions were both a reference to and reclamation of power from their British colonizers who used the lion in their coat of arms and generally represented the British. This sort of appropriation would serve to legitimize the empire and make them seem more powerful. This work is part of the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas exhibit at the Met Museum although it’s not currently on view. Photo: @metmuseum #africanart#lions#ghana#asante#personaladornment#status#columbiaAHISUN2500

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L A G O S A R T W A L K A B O U T
Exhibition | Private Viewing | In Residence
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Sunday 11 March 2018
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Slide 1: This lovely young lady @claireidera, architect and graduate fashion designer/fashion illustrator was one of five lady exhibitors at @relegallery. I asked her about the ideas behind her work: we all got a 7-minute presentation that ended in applause. Claire’s proud parents had been standing behind me all the while!
📽 @obiihonor
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Slide 2: After this, I attended an exhibition of paintings and carvings by the artist @alimiadewale. Hosted in the Ikoyi apartment of a wonderful French couple. Alimi is currently producing some very nice wood carved sculpture: about time someone did. In the tradition of vintage work. But he deconstructs: willfully damaging finished work to look like old artefacts. Dishonesty, genius or narrative? The latter two methinks.
📷 Me
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Slide 3: But before all this, I visited the Modernist-inspired home/studio of my friend, the artist @romisichei. You can visit the home during Open House Lagos 2018 on 28/29 April 2018.
📷 Me
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#openhouselagos2018#ohl2018#openhouselagos @openhouselagos #lagosculture#stairs#internationalwomensday

Baby Peaches🐾 and I are really excited to announce 🗣that “Aura 👑, #Mermaid of the Sun ☀️, “ has officially found a home! Thanks to my newest #collector in #Houston for your support! They also commissioned two more #queens to go with her so #staytuned . Thank you everyone that helped me name her, haha that was so fun for me. #jenelletheartdealer 👩🏾‍🎨🎨💋 if you would like a print of her please DM me. Prints will also be available on JenelletheArtDealer.com soon.